UKHSA issues four-day symptom alert as travellers at risk of deadly virus

Travellers have been issued a warning over symptoms that appear after four days as three cases of a potentially deadly virus have been detected in the UK for the first time. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says oropouche virus disease, which last year killed two people, has recently been spreading across various countries.

According to the health body, the cases detected in the UK were found in travellers returning from Brazil. Spread through insect bites, this disease is not usually serious but in some cases it can lead to severe complications such as meningitis or inflammation of the brain.

Historically, it has been seen in countries across Central and South America, including Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, and Panama. However, in 2024 a number of outbreaks occurred in these countries, as well as in Cuba and Barbados.

READ MORE: Warning issued as common toxic substance could 'kill dog in minutes'

READ MORE: Couples who've made life change given £1,000 DVLA driving licence alert

And in 2025, cases were identified in Venezuela for the first time. In an update provided by the UKHSA, the authority warned that symptoms typically show up four to eight days after a bite.

Onset of the illness is “sudden”, and symptoms are similar to those of other vector-borne diseases including chikungunya, dengue, Zika virus disease and malaria. They include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Joint pain
• Muscle aches
• Chills
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rash
• Sensitivity to light
• Dizziness
• Pain behind the eyes

The UKHSA continued: “Symptoms typically last up to a week but in about six out of 10 cases they can come back days or even weeks later. Most people recover fully, but in rare cases it can lead to more serious conditions like meningitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

“The first ever deaths linked to the virus were reported in Brazil in July 2024, where, sadly, 2 people died.” It advised that if you’ve recently returned from an affected region and have symptoms, it’s “important” to seek medical attention and make sure you mention your travel history.

Treatment

There's no specific medicine to treat oropouche virus disease. Treatment is about managing symptoms: rest, drink plenty of fluids, and take paracetamol or other over-the-counter meds to ease fever and pain.

If you develop severe symptoms, especially anything that might suggest brain involvement (like severe headache, confusion, or neck stiffness), the UKHSA says you must seek medical attention immediately.

Prevention

There is no vaccine for this disease, so prevention involves avoiding insect bites. To protect yourself, the UKHSA advises you:

• Use insect repellent containing at least 50 per cent DEET
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers, especially during dawn and dusk
• Stay in places with air conditioning or window screens with fine mesh to keep out midges
• Use insecticide-treated fine mesh bed nets if you're sleeping in areas without screens - standard bed nets are less effective against biting midges, as these insects are small and can pass through the netting
• Chemical insecticides sprayed inside and outside can also help deter midges
• remove standing water around your accommodation where insects might breed

If you are travelling abroad it is worth checking what vaccines are recommended via the Travel Health Pro website here.